Texas Governor Abbott has issued the strictest warning yet to the AI industry, accusing data center firms of failing to gain community support and blaming them for current opposition. He reversed his earlier stance of actively attracting such investments (including a $4 billion plan with Google announced in November) and ordered audits before data centers connect to the grid, while also calling for full payment of power infrastructure costs and the end of tax incentives. Similar actions have been taken by Pennsylvania Governor Shapiro and New York Governor Hochul. Rising public opposition, with 61% of Americans opposing new local data centers and voter anger threatening Republican Senate seats, has pushed Abbott to take these steps.